From conceptual chaos to coherence: a process-oriented governance model to operationalize social sustainability

Abstract Background Conceptual ambiguity consistently hinders the effective implementation of social sustainability, posing substantial obstacles to policy and practice. This study addresses this “conceptual chaos” not by proposing another definition, but by bringing coherence to a fragmented field. We systematically synthesize the scholarly discourse to construct a process-oriented governance framework. Methods This study employed a grounded theory systematic literature review (GT-SLR) of 132 documents. Through an inductive genealogical analysis, we mapped the evolution of the discourse and its underlying tensions to build an explanatory model directly from patterns within the literature. Results The analysis first identifies five coexisting intellectual streams that inform our primary finding: an integrative governance model. The model frames social sustainability as a dynamic process of “adaptive, legitimate, and capabilities-based governance”. This process is launched by societal crises and managed through specific techniques, ultimately resulting in either virtuous cycles of resilience or vicious cycles of degradation. Conclusion The primary contribution of this research is a conceptual synthesis that offers a common analytical language for a contested field. By recontextualizing the fundamental dilemma from a definitional issue to one of governance, the suggested model functions as both a diagnostic instrument for analyzing policy failures and a strategy framework for cultivating more resilient and equitable communities.